Part circle water motor driven sprinkler



Au 11', 1970 T, RA'DECKI 3,523,647

PART CIRCLE WATER MOTOR DRIVEN SPRINKLER Filed Sept. 11, 1968 v 2Sheets-Sheet 1 W $lilllkv A INVENTOR. 7010 54056/0 84A 4rr0/e/vf) s Aug.11', 1970 T. RADECKI PART CIRCLE WATER MOTOR DRIVEN SPRINKLER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11. 1968 em. Afro/emf Ms K O N E W m UnitedStates Patent O 3,523,647 PART CIRCLE WATER MOTOR DRIVEN SPRINKLER TonyRadecki, West Covina, Califi, assignor to Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg.Corporation, Glendora, Califi, a corporation of (Ialifornia Filed Sept.11, 1968, Ser. No. 759,038 Int. Cl. B051) 3/02 US. Cl. 239-406 12 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A part circle sprinkler of the type utilizinga water motor drive such as shown in Patent No. 3,315,898, in which themotivating jet is alternately directed in opposite directions by areversing mechanism on engagement with circumferentially adjustablestops.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Water motor driven sprinklers, such as thatshown in Pat. No. 3,315,898, have proven of practical value; however,heretofore they have been limited to full circle operation asdistinguished from part circle operation.

Other types of part circle sprinklers, such as that illustrated in Pat.No. 2,256,737, have been employed for many years and have utilized overcenter mechanisms which engage circumferentially adjustable stops toefiect reversal of movement, thereby to confine the area watered to apredetermined arc.

Thus, while a reversing mechanism to effect part circle operation hasbeen recognized as desirable, the problem of incorporation in a watermotor type sprinkler so as to cause reversal of a water stream has notbeen feasible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of this invention is toprovide a rotating sprinkler of the internal motor type which incorporates a novelly arranged means for reversing the direction of movementat any selected point so as to sprinkle any selected arc of a circle.

A further object is to provide a sprinkler of this type in which thereversing means is disposed within the sprinkler body adjacent themotor, and the motor is mounted for ready removal as a unit with a coverplate; thus, the reversing means may be preset and the sprinklerassembled so that the reversing means is protected against accidentalchange in adjustment.

A further object is to provide a reversing mechanism for a sprinkler ofthis type in which one embodiment produces one or more upwardly andtangentially directed jets for peripheral flow on contact with the wallsof the motor chamber so as to effect rotation of the motor.

A further object is to provide a reversing mechanism for a sprinkler ofthis type in which another embodiment involves one or more oscillatingnozzles mounted at the periphery of the motor chamber for directingwater horizontally and tangential for peripheral flow on contact withthe motor chamber walls for rotation of the motor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view ofthe part circle water motor driven sprinkler.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional view, taken through 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, with portions inelevation, taken through 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing particularly the watermotor with the surrounding housing and screen omitted.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the water motor, taken from 44 of FIG. 1,with the surrounding housing and the screen omitted.

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FIG. 5 is a plan view of the jet control plate and the diverter bladescarried thereby.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional view, corresponding to FIG.2, showing a modified form of the reversing mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional viewthereof, taken through 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view thereof, taken from 88 of FIG. 7.

1 SPECIFICATION Reference is directed first to FIGS. 1 through 5. Theconstruction herein illustrated includes an elongated, cylindricalhousing '1, having an inlet 2 at its lower end for connection to ariser, not shown, forming a part of the springler system. The upper endof the housing is provided with an external flange 3. Internally, thehousing is provided with a key channel 4.

The housing receives a cover "5, preferably formed of plastic material,and containing a reinforcing plate 6. The cover is held in place byscrews 7, which extend into the flange 3. The cover is provided with acentral bore 8.

Fitted within the housing is a strainer 9 in the form of an elongated,cylindrical basket, closed at its lower end. The strainer is providedwith an external key rib 10, as well as external spacer ribs 11 whichserve to space the strainer from the walls of the housing. Internally,the strainer. is provided with a set of longitudinally extending guideribs 12. The bottom of the strainer and the sides of the strainerbetween the ribs are provided with horizontally extending strainer slots13. These slots are illustrated in the lower portion only of thesrtainer in order that the presence of the slots will not interfere withthe illustration of the contents of the strainer.

Fitted within the strainer is a motor shell 14 in the form of aninverted, essentially cylindrical, cup. The lower margin of the motorshell is provided with a peripheral flange 15 which is notched so thatthe motor shell is guided vertically by the internal ribs 12. The motorshell is provided with an upwardly extending tubular stem 16, adapted toprotrude through the bore 8 of the cover 5. For purposes ofillustration, the motor shell and stem are shown in their upwardlyextended position. A retracting spring 17 urges the motor shell towardsits lower position, whereas water pressure urges the motor shell towardsits extended position. The lower end of the motor shell is closed by abase plate 18 which is cemented or otherwise secured in place. The baseplate is provided with a central depending journal boss 19.

Mounted within the motor shell is a rotor 20, having a depending stem 21extending through the journal boss 19. Within the motor shell, the rotorforms an impact body 22, preferably of triangular cross section. Therotor also includes an upper stem 23, which extends through the tubularstem 16 of the motor shell. The rotor is pro vided with a bore 24,partially closed at its lower end by a metering ring 25. Side ports 26extend through the impact body 22. The upper end of the rotor is closedby a cap 27, and a nozzle 28 is directed laterally and upwardly from therotor near the upper end of the stem 23. At the base of the upper stem23, the rotor is provided with a set of seal and friction rings 29 and aspring 30 which is located under the impact body 22 to provide a bearingload on the seal rings 29.

The periphery of the base plate 18is provided with a set of notches 31;in the construction illustrated, three notches are provided. Each notchextends circumferen tially and the circumferential extremities of thenotches converge upwardly. Positioned under the base plate 18, andjournalled externally on the boss 19, is a jet control plate 32, havinga set of three diverter blades 33. Each diverter blade is triangular inradial aspect and fits within a corresponding notch 31. Thecircumferential dimension of each diverter blade 33 is less than itscorresponding notch 31, so that by oscillating the diverter blade withinthe confines of the notch 31, a jet slot 34 may be formed one or theother side of the diverter blade so that water may be diretced upwardlyand circumferentially in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, asdesired. One of the diverter blades is provided with a depending pin 35.

At one side, the base plate 18 is provided with a depending journal pin36, which receives a bearing 37, forming an integral part of anoscillatable reversing plate 38, disposed horizontally below the jetcontrol plate 32. The reversing plate 38 is provided with a clearanceaperture 39 to receive the journal boss 19, and is provided with stops40, which engage the journal boss to limit the oscillating movement ofthe reversing plate.

The reversing plate 38 is provided with a depending pin 41 disposed inconfronting relation with the depending pin 35, and connected theret bya leaf spring 42 in such a manner that the leaf spring tends to forcethe pin 41 and reversing plate 38 to either of its extreme positions, inwhich the depending pin 41 is offset clockwise or counterclockwise withrespect to a line passing through the depending pin and the dependingpin 36. As a consequence, the diverter control blades 33 occupy eitherone or the other extreme position.

The depending stem 21 of the rotor projects below the journal boss 19and receives a pair of clamp loops 43, from which extend essentiallyradially, a pair of stop arms 44 positioned to engage the depending pin41. The clamp loops are adjustable circumferentially so as to locate thestop arms in preselected positions.

Mounted within the motor chamber formed around the impact body 22, andwithin the shell 14, is a drive ring 45, which in the constructionillustrated, is square in cross section with rounded corners. The impactbody 22 of the rotor is triangular in cross section, also with roundedcorners. The three sides of the impact body have the same width as eachof the four sides of the drive ring. The drive ring is provided withperforations 46.

Operation of the sprinkler illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 is asfollows:

While the water motor contained within the motor shell 14 and thereversing mechanism is shown in conjunction with a pop-up typesprinkler, the water motor and the reversing mechanism is equallyapplicable to a construction in which the water motor is fixed inposition except for rotation of its parts.

The water motor illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 is essentially the typeof water motor shown in Pat. No. 3,315,898. Water swirling within themotor shell 14 causes the drive ring to rotate in the same direction aswater flow. In doing so, the corners of the drive ring impact againstthe apeces of the impact body 22, producing an intermittent rotation inthe same direction. If the direction of water flow is reversed, then thedrive ring 45 rotates in the opposite direction and produces acorresponding rotary movement of the impact body 22. When the diverterblades 33 are in one extreme position, water is directed through the jetslots in an upward and peripheral direction, producing a swirlingmovement which may, for example, be clockwise. This condition obtainsuntil the appropriate stop arm 44 engages the depending pin 41 to forcethe pin to its opposite extreme position, causing the diverter blades tosnap to their opposite position, so that the water now flows upwardlyand circum-- ferentially in the opposite direction, with the result thatthe rotor 20 changes its direction of rotation.

At the (time of installation, the cover 5 and the water motor containedwithin the shell 14 are removed. The reversing or stop arms 44 are thenadjusted circumferentially so as to confine movement of the rotor withinthe prescribed arc, whereupon the motor shell and cover are reassembled.While it may be necessary to test the movement of the sprinkler, once ortwice and possibly readjust, it is usually possible with a littlepractice to make the proper adjustment without need of readjustment. Ineither case, once the proper adjustment has been made. the sprinklerreassembled, the stop arms are concealed and protected againsttampering.

Reference is now directed to the construction shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.The construction here shown is es sentially the same as the firstdescribed structure except for the reversable means for injecting waterinto the motor chamber.

A motor shell 47 which differs from the motor shell 14 by provision of aside rib 48 is used. The side rib 49 is provided with a socket 50extending upwardly from its lower end which communicates with the motorcham her through two tangentially opposed nozzle slits 51. The lower endof the shell 47 is closed by a base plate 52 corresponding to the baseplate 18. The base plate 52 is provided with a perforated radialprojection 53 underlying the side rib 49.

An essentially cylindrical valve member 54, closed at its upper end, andhaving in one side an orifice slit 55, is received in the socket 50 andthe perforated projection 53. The valve member is provided with a stem56 extending upwardly through a small bore 57 and terminating in aretainer lip 58. The valve member is provided with a bottom flange 59having a depending pin 60 corresponding in function to the pin 35 of thefirst described structure.

The water motor and the mechanism for oscillating the valve member isessentially the same as in the first described structure. Reversal ofthe water motor is accomplished by changing the flow from one nozzleslit 54 to the other.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of theconstructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces suchchanges, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and theirrelationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A reversible sprinkler, comprising:

(a) means defining a water motor chamber having an opening at its upperend;

(b) means for admitting water into said chamber for circular flowtherein, including means for reversing the direction of the flow;

(c) a tubular rotor mounted within said motor chamber and projectingthrough said opening, said rotor having an inlet for water within saidmotor chamber and a discharge nozzle above said chamber;

(d) and means responsive to the circular flowing water in said motorchamber for causing rotation of said rotor in the direction of waterflow.

2. A reversible sprinkler, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said rotor includes a stem extending from said motor chamber;

(b) circumferentially adjustable stops are carried by said stem;

(0) and an over-center operating mechanism interconnects said stops andreversing means to efiect reversal of rotation of said rotor.

3. A reversible sprinkler, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said water admitting means defines essentially helical passagewaysextending in opposite directions and said reversing means selectivelyactivates said passageways to cause water entering said chamber to flowin a circular path in either direction.

4. A reversible sprinkler, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said water admitting means includes at least one circumferentiallyextending slot in the bottomside of said motor chamber having convergingwalls at its circumferential extremities;

(b) and said reversing means includes a selector member tapered incorrespondence to said walls and movable into engagement with eitherwall to form with the other wall an upwardly and circumferentiallydirected flow passage.

5. A reversible sprinkler, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said water admitting means includes an upwardly directed port at theperiphery of said motor chamber;

(b) and said reversing means includes a valve capping said port andhaving an orifice in its side wall, said valve being oscillatable todirect said orifice essentially tangential to said motor chamber ineither direction.

6. A reversible sprinkler, comprising:

(a') means defining a cylindrical water motor cham- (a) means defining acylindrical water motor cham- (b) means for admitting water into saidchamber for circular flow therein, including means for reversing thedirection of the flow;

(c) a tubular rotor mounted within said motor chamber projecting throughsaid opening and having a discharge nozzle; said rotor having an impactreceiving portion of polygonal cross section within said motor chamber,and ports communicating between said motor chamber and said dischargenozzle;

(d) a drive shell of polygonal cross section within said motor chamberresponsive to circular flowing 'water therein for impact engagement withthe polygonal portion of said rotor in the direction of water flow.

7. A reversible sprinkler, as defined in claim 6,

wherein:

(a) said motor chamber defining means includes a journal sleeve; -(b)said rotor includes a tubular stem protruding beyond said sleeve;

(0) circumferentially adjustable stops are carried by said stem;

(d) and an over-center operating mechanism interconnects said stops andreversing means to effect reversal of rotation of said rotor.

8. A reversible sprinkler, as defined in claim.- 6,

wherein:

(a) said water admitting means includes at least one circumferentiallyextending slot in one axial side of said motor chamber defining means,said slot having converging walls at its circumferential extremities;

(b) said reversing means includes an oscillatable plate disposedadjacent said slotted axial side and a selector member carried therebyand extending into said slot therein, said selector member havingcircumferentially spaced end walls sloping in correspondence with theend Walls of said slot to form at least one pair of circumferential andessentially helically directed passageways for directing water enteringsaid motor chamber into a circular path;

(c) and over-center actuating means to cause said selector member toclose either of said passageways thereby to reverse the direction ofWater flow in said motor chamber.

9. A reversing sprinkler, as defined in claim 6, wherein:

(a) said water admitting means includes at least two passageways fordischarging water in opposite circular directions;

(b) and said reversing means selects either of said passageways.

10. A reversible sprinkler, as defined in claim 6-,

'wherein:

(a) said Water admitting means includes at least one axially directedport in an end of said motor chamber defining means at the peripherythereof;

(b) said reversing means includes at least one cylindrical valve chamberoverlying said port; a pair of essentially tangentially directed inletslots; and a cylindrical valve oscillatable in saidvalve chamber,capping said axially directed port and having a side slot alternatelyregisterable with said inlet slots.

11. A reversible sprinkler, as defined in claim 9,

wherein said reversing means further comprises:

(a) a reversing disk oscillatably mounted adjacent said motor chamberdefining means;

(b) an over-center spring interconnecting said plate and disk to urgesaid plate and disk in opposite direction, thereby to reverse thedirection of water flow into said motor chamber;

(c) and circumferentially adjustable stops carried by said rotorengageable with one of said pins to cause over-center operation of saidspring.

12. A reversible sprinkler, as defined in claim 10,

wherein said reversing means further comprises:

(a) a reversing disk oscillatably mounted at one end of said motorchamber defining means;

(b) an over-center spring interconnecting said valve and said reversingdisk to urge said disk and valve in opposite directions thereby toreverse the direction of water flow into said motor chamber;

(c) and circumferentially adjustable stops carried by said rotorengageable with one of said pins to cause over-center operation of saidspring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,074,336 9/ 1913 Wismar 239-23XR 3,448,660 6/ 1969 Malcolm 239206 X'R 2,256,737 9/1941 Englehart239-230 3,315,898 4/1967 Costa 239241 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., PrimaryExaminer G. A. CHURCH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 23924l

